1. Who is your favorite professional player to watch, and what is it about his game that intrigues you the most?

Oliver: Pablo Zabaleta or David Silva. Both play their respective positions so well and contribute to the benefit of the overall system that they play in.

Both are excellent professionals who consistently display such great work rate and technical ability.

2. What are the major characteristics that you try to instill in your players in order to help them strive to become a complete soccer player?

Oliver: I want my players to be disciplined and tactically aware. My players must be able to understand their role and have confidence in the system we play in.

Of course, I want them to express themselves and enjoy playing the game. Soccer is a beautiful game that should be enjoyed. But I always want to instill a belief and will to win that cannot be matched in my players, so they are prepared to succeed when the opportunity presents itself.

A player with strong character and discipline will go far in the game.

3. Is there a specific individual training drill that you would recommend for all youth soccer players?

Oliver: There is not one magic solution. I wish there was! All I can say is that you must commit to becoming great. That means spending extra time on the field before practice, asking your mom and dad to take you to the field to work on passing and collecting the ball, finding a wall to hit the ball against, juggling the ball in the backyard, and making sure you watch games on the television to see how the best in the world play the game.

It’s what you are willing to do when nobody is watching that separates the good from the great.

4. What gives you the most satisfaction as a coach in terms of player and team development?

Oliver: When I have the ability to see my players, after they finish playing with me, and they have gone on to become respectful, hard-working, and successful young men. That is very satisfying.

First and foremost, I like to see my players be stand up members in the community, give back in a philanthropic way, and look for nothing in return. Winning at the club and high school levels is fantastic, but I want to make sure I do my part in helping my boys succeed as men in whatever they choose to do.

5. What is the most influential piece of advice that you've received that's helped you throughout your career?

Oliver: That you must mentally believe you can defeat anything and achieve everything. No goal is too unattainable because if you tell yourself something is not possible, you have already lost.